General

Handy Pickleball Excuses List

(Compiled by Hutch)

No matter how much we try, things out of our control sometimes happen in the game of pickleball that on the rare occasion, cause us to understandably miss a shot. It can happen to anyone, even the best of us. Here is a short list of the most common excuses. Keep a copy handy in your pickleball bag and commit them to memory while sitting off in between games.

These have all been fully endorsed and approved by ABPA Club President, John Fuller. So feel free to use any or all of them depending on your playing situation:

1. The Sun/Reflection: “I lost the ball in the sun. The glare was right in my eyes! I just need to get my hat.” OR exact words uttered by the ABPA President: “The person who parked that white van across the road should be shot!”
2. The Wind: “Did you feel that sudden strong wind gust? It totally threw off my shot.”
3. The Hole in Your Paddle: Just look at your paddle with a confused look on your face, be thorough and check both sides.
4. The Sweaty Hand: “My paddle’s grip was slippery; and my hand slipped.”
5. The On-Going Injury: Just hold your [insert injury e.g back, calf, shoulder etc] with a grimace on your face
6. The Bad Bounce: “The ball must have hit a [insert foreign object e.g crack, leaf, twig]. When is the council going to get that sorted?”
7. The Noise: “Their talking threw me off.”
8. The Not Ready: “Sorry I wasn’t ready.” Note: Especially useful when you are serving.
9. The Slippery Court: “Gee the court is a bit slippery today.”
10. The Insect: “Did you see that, an insect, and I got distracted for a split second.”
11. The Itch: “I had an itch on my nose and just couldn’t focus. Play it again.”
12. The Sudden Cramp: “Oh! I just got a cramp.” Best when incorporated with your best hopping acting.
13. The Line Skid: “WOW! Did you see that ball skid off the line there?”
14. The Net Too Low: “I didn’t think the ball was coming over the net. Can we check the height?”
15. The Net Too High: “My shots are all going into the net. It can’t be the right height.”
16. The Poor Reflexes: “Great shot. I didn’t even see that. Did you?”
17. The Pop Up & Put Away: “WOW! Great shot!”
18. The Paddle’s Fault: “I’m not used to this paddle.  I’m going back to my other one.”
19. The Hopefully Broken Ball: “Can you just check. I think that ball might be broken.”
20. The Ball Call: “Sorry I thought that ball was about to come on our court.”
21. The Partner Framing: “YOURS!” or “I thought my partner had it covered.”
22. The Community Service Award: “Sorry I’m not with it today, my grandchild is home sick.”
23. The Good Luck Charm: “I forgot to wear my lucky socks today.”
24. The Sunscreen: “My eyes are stinging; I think I’ve got sunscreen in my eyes.”
25. The Working On My Game: “Sorry, I’m just working on some new shots today.”
26. The Ghost Out Call: “Sorry I thought I heard you call the last shot out.”
27. The Serve Faults: “I think I’ve got the yips, because the coach is watching”.
28. The Stuffed Knee: “The swelling has disappeared, so now it locks up when I try to get to a drop shot”.
29. The Old Age Senility: “I packed my glasses, but I forgot to wear them”.
30. The Cold Body: “I didn’t have much of a warmup”.
31. The Mental Unreadiness: “I’ve been organising the games”.
32. The Dreamer: “I didn’t even know we had started” (Nick).
33. The Ball On Court Swap: “It’s a different ball!”
34. Pro Tip: All of the above can be used and then followed with “Shall we play that point again!?”

Hello everyone, it’s me, the one and only Donald Trump! I’m here to tell you about a fantastic sport that I guarantee you’ll love—pickleball! Now, let me tell you, pickleball is incredible, really incredible. It’s a game that’s sweeping the nation, and believe me, folks, you’re going to want to be a part of it.

1. Pickleball is Winning Bigly First and foremost, pickleball is a winning sport. It’s a cross between tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. You get the best of all worlds, folks! It’s fast-paced, exciting, and easy to pick up. You’ll be having tremendous fun from the moment you step onto the court.

2. A Sport for All Ages Pickleball is a sport that unites people of all ages. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, a beginner or a seasoned athlete—pickleball is for everyone. It’s a sport that brings families and friends together, and let me tell you, there’s nothing more beautiful than that.

3. Make Friends and Make Deals On the pickleball court, you’ll meet amazing people from all walks of life. And you know what I always say, folks: “Make friends and make deals.” It’s true! Pickleball is the perfect place to network and create lasting connections. Who knows, you might just end up making the deal of a lifetime.

4. Energize Your Body and Mind Playing pickleball will get you moving, and let me tell you, folks, that’s tremendous for your body and your mind. It’s a sport that keeps you active, improves your hand-eye coordination, and sharpens your strategic thinking. You’ll be winning on and off the court!

5. The Best Courts, Absolutely the Best Pickleball courts are popping up all over the place, and they are the best, absolutely the best. You’ll find top-notch facilities in parks, recreation centers, and even some resorts. You won’t believe how well-maintained and fantastic these courts are.

6. Easy to Get Started Now, some people might say, “Donald, I don’t know how to play pickleball.” Well, let me tell you, it’s the easiest sport to learn, really. You don’t need to be a pro to have fun. Grab a paddle, a ball, and get out there. You’ll be hitting those shots like a champion in no time.

7. Get Addicted to the Fun Believe me when I say this, folks: once you start playing pickleball, you won’t want to stop. It’s addictive, in a tremendous way. You’ll find yourself saying, “Just one more game,” and before you know it, you’ve spent hours on the court, having the time of your life.

Conclusion So there you have it, folks, the incredible benefits of playing pickleball. It’s a sport that brings people together, provides endless fun, and keeps you in the best shape. Pickleball is a winner, and you should be a part of it.

Join the pickleball movement, and together, we’ll make pickleball great again! Trust me; you won’t regret it. Let’s hit the courts and have a tremendous time playing this fantastic sport. See you out there!

P.S. Fake news again thanks to AI!

Our Club features in the November 2021 issue of the Pittwater Life magazine. A reporter (Steve Meacham) saw us playing pickleball at Avalon Beach and was keen to explain to puzzled readers what this sport is all about. The article is titled “Avalon in a surreal ‘pickle'”. Click on the image below to learn about the origin of pickleball and how it all began on the Northern Beaches.

By Jennifer Lucor (allpickleball.com). Added to by Rona.

An important part of learning to play pickleball is understanding pickleball terminology. This is a cheat sheet which will help you understand some of the strange sounding words you hear in the pickleball world.

Ace – A serve that is in (and legal) and has not been hit or touched by the receiver.

Approach Shot – A shot that is done while moving forward toward the net.

Around the Post – A shot that travels outside (around) the net post usually landing in the opponent’s backcourt near the line. These shots are most often set up by a wide dink.

Backhand – A hit with the “back” of the paddle made by reaching across the body and leading the swing with the back of the hand.

Backspin – means the pickleball is rotating backwards through the air.  The paddle swing is a high-to-low arc. This spin of the ball is from a “slice” or “cut” shot.

Banger – a style of play where the player hits hard, driving shots. Their shots are hard and fast – attacking at every moment. They are a “Banger.”  The opposite of a “Dinker.”

Beer Bracket – If you are OUT of the tournament early, losing in the early rounds then you are in the beer bracket. This has nothing to do with the famous craft beer brackets, but all about pickleball and time to kick off your tennis shoes put on your flip flops, grab your favorite beer and cheer your friends on.

Crosscourt – The opponent’s court diagonally opposite yours.

Dink – A soft shot typically made near the kitchen line, so that it drops into the opponent’s non-volley zone and they are not able to volley it back.

Dinker – a style of play where the players plays soft dinking shots. They always want to slow the game down, staying in a defensive position. The opposite of a “Banger.”

Double Bounce Rule – You have to let the ball bounce both on the serve and the return. If you don’t, it will be a fault.

Doubles – A pickleball game played with 4 players (2 on each team). Teams can be men, women or mixed doubles.

Drive – A low shot intended to reach the opponents’ backcourt.

Drop Shot – A soft shot that clears the pickleball net and then falls short of the opposing players into the kitchen.

Erne – This shot is a volley hit right at the net with a player positioned outside the court. An “Erne” shot is when a player steps outside the inner part of the court and on the other side of either the right or left sideline and comes forward to be parallel with the kitchen but is, in fact, standing outside the kitchen on the other side of the sideline. The ball will be struck out of the air and very close to the net. This is a surprise shot that typically will be initiated out of dinking rally. It’s an advance shot that requires precise timing and quick movement.

Fault – A rule violation. This ends the rally.

Forehand – A hit with the “front” of the paddle made by leading the swing with the front or palm of the hand.

Foot Fault – Can be called at two locations on the court: Stepping on or into the non-volley zone while volleying a ball, or, while serving, failure to keep both feet behind the baseline with at least one foot in contact with the surface when the paddle contacts the ball.

Game – A series of points played until one team has accumulated 11 points (winning by 2 points). Some pickleball tournaments play games to 15 or 21 points (win by 2).

Groundstroke – A forehand or backhand shot that is executed after the ball bounces once on the court. It is usually hit from the back of the court.

Half-Volley – A type of hit where the player hits the ball immediately after it has bounced in an almost scoop-like fashion.

Kitchen – A nickname for the non-volley zone. “Non-volley zone” and “kitchen” are synonymous. Non-volley zone is the technical name, but kitchen is used more often…. probably because it flows off the tongue easier. Interestingly, in writing my book – History of Pickleball, I did quite a bit of digging to try to figure out where the term kitchen originated, but no such luck. Most assume it derived from the saying ‘if you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen”, but that is an assumption.

Let Serve – A serve that touches the top of the net and lands in the proper service court. It is replayed without penalty.

Lines:

– Baseline – This is the line at the back of the court that can’t be crossed when you serve and is in-bounds.

– Centerline – The line extends from the Non-Volley Zone to the Baseline and divides the service court into two equal halves. The centerline separates in-bounds and out-of-bounds for the serve. The line is in-bounds.

– Non-Volley Zone Line (NVZ) – The line separating the non-volley zone from the rest of the court. The line is considered part of the zone and as such is considered out-of-bounds for a serve. It is the only line so designated.

– Sideline – The line at the side of the court separating in-bounds and out-of-bounds. The line is considered in-bounds.

Lob – A shot that sends the ball high overhead and deep, forcing the opponent back to the baseline.

Match – End of a series of game(s) which determine a winner. A tournament will have a series of pickleball matches.

Mid-court – The area between the kitchen and the backcourt. Sometimes referred to as “no man’s” land.

Nasty Nelson – A Nasty Nelson is a shot where the server serves the ball to intentionally hit the opposing player nearest to the pickleball net (in other words, the opposing player that is not receiving the serve). If the served pickleball strikes the opposing player before it bounces, then the receiving team commits a fault, and the serving team wins the point.

No Man’s Land or “Transition Zone” –   referring to the area on the court which a player passes when getting from the baseline to the Non-Volley Line.

Non-Volley Zone – A seven-foot area adjacent to the net within which you may not step into and volley the ball. A player can be in this zone, but to hit the ball it must have first bounced. The non-volley zone includes all lines around it. Also called the “kitchen”.

Overhead – A hard shot made when you hit the ball above your head.

Poach – In doubles, to cross over into your partner’s portion of the court to play a ball.

Put away – A shot with no chance of being returned.

Rally – Hitting the ball back and forth between opposite teams, a long series of shots.

Ready Position – Ideal position to receive the ball for a return. The paddle is out in front of player’s body and up at chest height with a neutral grip for either forehand or backhand return. Weight is evenly balanced to slightly on toes with knees slightly bent and ready to move in any direction.

Serve (Service) – An underhand stroke used to start the point and put the ball into play.

Server Number – When playing doubles, either “1” or “2,” depending on whether you are the first or second server for your side. This number is appended to the score when it is called.

Side Out – Declared after one side loses its service and other side is awarded serve.

Singles – A game played with 2 players and divided 1 per side.

Stacking – is a technique or strategy used by some doubles teams to increase the number of times that players will have their forehand or backhands in the middle of the court. It is most often observed in teams which include both a right and left-handed player. Players on a team are not in traditional positioning and are instead rearranged in order to keep one player on a particular side of the court. Unlike traditional play, the stacking team will start on the same side and then once the serve or return is hit, they shift into the desired positioning. What makes stacking possible is the fact that there are no rules in pickleball that govern what side of the court a player may stand or hit the ball, except when serving or hitting a return of serve.

Third Shot Drop – A drop shot usually done after the service return (third shot) allowing the serving team time to get to the non-volley zone line. These types of shots can also be successfully used to slow or “reset” the point.

Topspin – Spin on the ball in the same direction of the flight of the ball. The paddle swing is a low-to-high arc, meaning the paddle is moving upward when it contacts the back of the ball.

Transition Zone or “No Man’s Land” –   referring to the area on the court which a player passes when getting from the baseline to the Non-Volley Line.

Unforced Error – A player missing a shot that should normally be made.

Volley – Hitting the ball before it bounces.

The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) has some exciting goals for the sport!

The first step in the process of pickleball being included in the Olympic Games is recognition as a sport from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The IOC requires that the activity have administration by an international nongovernmental organization that oversees at least one sport. Once a sport is recognized, it then moves to International Sports Federation (IF) status. At that point, the international organization administering the sport must enforce the Olympic Movement Anti-Doping Code, including conducting effective out-of-competition tests on the sport’s competitors while maintaining rules set forth by the Olympic Charter.

A sport may gain IOC recognition but not become a competing event at the Olympic Games. Bowling and chess are recognized sports, but they do not compete at the Games. To become a part of the Games, the sport’s IF must apply for admittance by filing a petition establishing its criteria of eligibility to the IOC. The IOC may then admit an activity into the Olympic program in one of three different ways: as a sport; as a discipline, which is a branch of a sport; or as an event, which is a competition within a discipline. For instance, triathlon was admitted as a sport, debuting at the 2000 Games in Sydney. Women’s wrestling was a new discipline in the sport of wrestling at the Athens Games, and women’s pole vaulting debuted in Sydney as a track-and-field event. Rules for admittance vary slightly between a new sport, a discipline, and an event, but the intent is the same.

Once an IF has presented its petition, many rules and regulations control whether the sport will become part of the Olympic Games. The Olympic Charter indicates that in order to be accepted, a sport must be widely practiced by men in at least 75 countries and on four continents and by women in no fewer than 40 countries and on three continents. The sport must also increase the ‘‘value and appeal’’ of the Olympic Games and retain and reflect its modern traditions. There are numerous other rules, including bans on purely ‘‘mind sports’’ and sports dependent on mechanical propulsion. These rules have kept chess, automobile racing, and other recognized sports out of the Olympic Games.

Pickleball doesn’t meet the above criteria yet, but some people are predicting 2028.